Magneto ventilation system



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 2, 1960 INVENTOR.

I I l I 'ELMER E- KLEKHAEFER Andrus {f Star/(e wlbrnegs Se t. 4, 1962 E. c. KIEKHAEFER MAGNETO VENTILATION SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2; 1960 INVENTOR. ELMER C. KIEKHAEFER aw 4C. n H mm A United States Patent Ofifice 3,952,225 Patented Sept. 4, 1962 3,052,225 MAGNETO VENTELATION SYSTEM Elmer Carl Kiekhaefer, Cedarburg, Wis, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Kiekhaefer Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 53,716 Claims. ((Il. 123-4131) This invention relates generally to internal-combustion engines and more specifically to a system for venting the ignition distributor or timer unit of the assembly.

Considerable amounts of nitric oxide and ozone are generated within the housing of an ignition distributor or timer unit caused presumably by the breakdown of air in the immediate vicinity of the contacts. Apparently the oxide combines readily with any water vapor that is present and forms highly corrosive nitric acid which has a deleterious effect on the life of the rotor bearing and other parts of the unit. Further, a combination of the fumes of nitric oxide and ozone could create a dangerous fire and explosion hazard.

A number of methods for venting a distributor or timer unit have previously been employed with varying degrees of success. These methods have been generally directed to the removal of noxious compounds and thereby prevent dangerous accumulations of the same within the housing.

This invention encompasses not only the removal of any dangerous accumulation of combustive mixture which might form within the housing, but further provides a system which in a large measure prevents the formation of such mixture.

According to this invention, the air for ventilating an ignition timer unit for an internal-combustion engine is directed first through a condensing coil or chamber in the engine disposed in heat interchange relation with an engine fluid, such as the fuel mixture, or in heat interchange relation with coolant water. In either manner, the engine fuel mixture or the coolant effects a temperature drop in the ventilating air thereby reducing the water vapor carrying capability or capacity of the air.

More specifically the invention provides a ventilating system for an ignition timer unit for an internal-cornbustion engine in which the system utilizes generally a diaphragm type pump actuated by pressure pulses in the crankcase to move air from outside the internal-combustion engine through a condenser element or unit, thence the ignition timer unit, and eventually to the outside air.

FIG. 1 is an elevational perspective view of an internalcombustion engine with a magneto and embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the internal-combustion engine of FIG. 1 with parts broken away and sectioned to show a portion of one form of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a multi-cylinder, internalcom-bustion engine in which another form of the invention is utilized;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an internal-combustion engine with parts broken away and partly sectioned in which the engine fluid mixture is cooled by the expansion or venturi action and in turn reduces the moisture carrying capacity of the incoming air; and

FIG. 5 is a view taken on line 55 of FIG. 4.

As shown in the drawings, one form of the invention is shown as incorporated in an internal-combustion engine 1, having a crankcase 2, an engine block 3, and disposed thereon and secured thereto in the usual manner, a water jacket 4. The water jacket is so adapted that the requisite number of spark plugs 5 may have their outer ends extend therethrough and be connected by suitable leads to a magneto unit 6 incorporating a distributor 7 with a suitable sump 8.

The magneto unit is provided with a rotor shaft 9 extending downwardly therethrough into the distributor, and is driven from the engine shaft as shown in the drawings, particularly FIG. 1.

Water jacket 4 is generally hollow and has removably secured thereto in any suitable location, a cold water inlet lltl connected to a suitable supply of water for circulation through the Water jacket 4- and around the cylinders of the internal-combustion engine.

An air inlet 11, opening to the outside air, is provided at one side of the water jacket. Outside air enters through the air inlet and. passes through the water jacket by means of a conduit 12. Conduit 12 in effect functions as a condensing coil so that air passing therethrough and which contains a certain amount of moisture, has its temperature reduced and simultaneously the moisture carrying capacity of the air due to the heat interchange relation with the cooling water. Any condensate from the heat interchange may be disposed of, for instance, through the air inlet or through any other egress that is desirable.

It will be noted that the opposite end of air conduit 12 is attached to another air conduit 13 which in turn is removably secured to the housing of the magneto unit. Conduit 14 is removably secured in an appropriate manner to sump 8 and provides means for the passage of air from the magneto and distributor to a diaphragm exhaust pump 15. The pump is actuated, as is shown, by pressure pulses from the crankcase,

it will be appreciated that the system just described utilizes a diaphragm type pump which may be actuated by pressure pulses in the crankcase. This, of course, moves air from outside the internal-combustion engine through a condenser element where the temperature of the air is lowered thereby reducing its moisture carrying capacity, then through the magneto or ignition distributor, back through the pump where it is finally permitted to discharge to the outside Another modification in which the same principle is utilized is shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment there is shown a inulti-cylinder, iznternahcombustion engine having a water jacket 16 secured to the exhaust manifold cover. A suitable cold water inlet 17 is removably secured at one side of the water jacket, While on the opposite side thereof, and removably secured, is an inlet 18 for outside air. A complementary air outlet 19 is disposed at the opposite end of the water jacket with condenser unit 20 disposed between and secured to the air inlet and air outlet. Air passes through the condenser unit 20, where the moisture is removed therefrom. Condensation which develops from the air being cooled is permitted to drain outwardly through air inlet 18. The magneto or distributor unit with sump, together with the diaphragm type exhaust pump, is not shown. However, sutfice it to say that the operation of the system may be said to be substantially identical with the operation above et forth with relation to FIGS. 1 and 2.

A further modification of the invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in which there is no specific water jacket provided for as in the previous modifications which have been described. The engine shown in FIG. 4 may be provided with the usual engine cooling water in any one of a number of ways. The engine itself may be recessed as shown at 21 on the backside of the crankcase and a cover 22 is removably secured to the block. Outside air is permitted to enter the recess 21 in the block through a suitable inlet 23 which also permits egress of any condensate from the air.

Outside air for venting the engine distributor or timer unit passes through inlet 23 and enters chamber 25 formed by recess 21 and cover member 22. The air takes a tortuous path through chamber 25 as it is forced past inwardly projecting fins or baffles 26 and around the fuel passages 24 which extend through the chamber. The air leaves chamber 25 through the outlet 27 connected to the distributor or timer unit.

The respective fuel passages 24 conduct the vaporous fuel-air mixture for engine combustion from the vaporizing units 28 to the corresponding chambers of the engine crankcase. The cooling eifect of the expanding fuel-air mixture passing through passages 24 is utilized to eifect a temperature drop of the air passing through chamber 25. As a result of the temperature drop, the water vapor carrying capability of the air is reduced and any excess moisture carried by the air is condensed therefrom in chamber 25 to provide venting air for the distributor or timer unit carrying a lesser amount of Water vapor.

The vacuum pump, magneto and distributor, together with air conduits, have not been shown, but any suitable disposition of the same may be used. However, the principle upon which the system works is substantially the same as previously described.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. In an internal-combustion engine having an ignition timer unit enclosed within a housing, passage means in said engine for conducting heat absorbing fluids having a temperature lower than that of ambient air, an air conducting passage in said engine disposed in heat interchange relation with said passage means whereby to provide a temperature drop of the air in said passage in order to reduce the vapor carrying capacity of the air, conduit means connecting the air conducting passage and ignition timer unit housing for conducting relatively dry air to the ignition timer unit, and means for forcing air through said conducting means, said conduit means and said housing in the order named.

2. In an internal-combustion engine of the type utilizing crankcase precompression of the air and fuel mixture and having an ignition timer unit enclosed within a housing, passage means in said engine for conducting heat absorbing fluids, an air conducting passage in said engine disposed in heat interchange relation with said passage means, an inlet for said air conducting passage, means connecting the air conducting passage and ignition timer unit housing, an exhaust pump connected to said ignition timer unit, and a conduit connecting said unit and said pump, said exhaust pump being adapted to be actuated by pressure pulses from the crankcase of the engine whereby air, the temperature of which has been lowered by its passage in heat interchange relation with said heat absorbing fluids to remove excess water vapor therefrom, is passed through the ignition timer unit.

3. In an internal-combustion engine having an ignition timer unit enclosed Within a housing, said engine being provided with a venturi type carburetor for the reception and passage therethrough of a mixture of fuel and air, an air conducting passage in said engine disposed in heat interchange relation with the venturi portion of said carburetor whereby the temperature of the air in said passage and the vapor carrying capacity of the same is reduced, conduit means connecting said air conducting passage and ignition timer unit housing, and exhaust means for exhausting the air from the timer unit housing.

4. In an internal-combustion engine of the type utilizing crankcase precompression of the air and fuel mixture introduced into a carburetor for the engine and having an ignition timer unit enclosed Within a housing, the carburetor being adapted for the reception and passage therethrough of a mixture of fuel and air, an air conducting passage in said engine disposed in heat interchange relation with a portion of the carburetor whereby the temperature of the air in said passage and the vapor carrying capacity of the same is reduced, a pump connected to said ignition timer unit, a conduit for the passage of air connecting said unit and pump, a conduit for the passage of air connecting said engine and said unit, and an inlet for atmospheric air to be actuated by pressure pulses from the crankcase of the engine and whereby atmospheric air is moved through in heat interchange relation in said carburetor, thence through the ignition timer unit and then to exhaust.

5. In an internal-combustion engine having an ignition system including an ignition timer unit enclosed within a housing adapted to have ventilating air circulate therethrough, said engine being at least partially surrounded by a water jacket circulating cooling water to cool the engine, an air conducting conduit disposed in said jacket in heat interchange relation with the cooling Water to provide a temperature drop in the air circulating therethrough to reduce the vapor carrying capacity of the air to thereby condense out a substantial portion of moisture in the air, conduit means connecting the air conducting passage and ignition timer unit housing, and means for circulating the air through said air conducting conduit, said conduit means and said timer unit housing.

No references cited. 

